They are breaded, fried shrimp, I've tried adding scampi and other kinds of shrimp before, but honestly, there is just something about breaded shrimp that jives so well with this dish, it tastes the best out of all of them. It's amazing!It looks very good and I commend you one again for making pasta from scratch!
That looks like meatballs nestled there... but I think they must be curled up prawns (shrimp).
They are breaded, fried shrimp,